Glossary of Terms

To help our readers better understand cocktails and bartending , we have created this glossary of common terms used in this website and the alcohol industry.

Absinthe
Anise flavored cordial containing wormwood, now outlawed.

Age
How long a whiskey, rum or brandy has been stored.

Ale
A beer similar to lager, but with more of a bitter taste.

Apéritif
A drink that stimulates the appetite.

Back
A non-alcoholic drink or a small glass of beer served on the side of a shot.

Bar Spoon
Long handled spoon with a twirled stem.

Base Liquor
The main ingredient in a drink.

Bitters
Made from bark herbs, roots and berries, a sweet to dry flavored drink, usually spirit based; considered an aperitif.

Blend
Use a blender to mix cocktail.

Call
A brand name liquor that is step above well.

Chaser
A beverage served on the side of another alcoholic drink.

Cordial
Same as a liquour, sweet drink made from berries, fruit or herbs.

Cooler
A drink consisting of ginger ale, soda water, and a fresh spiral or twist of citrus fruit rind, served in a collins or highball glass.

Dash
A smidgen or a couple drops, approximately 1/16 oz.

Dry
No vermouth or a small amount.

Flag
Term used when someone has had enough to drink, also a garnish.

Flamed
Drink is topped with high proof alcohol & lit.

Float
To layer one ingredient on top of another, usually to top a drink.

Frozen
Drink is blended in blender with crushed ice or ice cream.

Highball
Any spirit served with ice and soda water in a medium to tall glass (Highball glass).

Jigger
Shot glass for pouring about an ounce and a half.

Layered
Using heaviest liquors first, each liquor is carefully poured on top of the other usually using a back of a spoon.

Liqueur
Same as a cordial, sweet drink made from berries, fruit or herbs.

Long Drink
Term used for mixed drink not served in a cocktail glass.

Lowball
A short drink made of spirits served with ice, water or soda in a small glass (Lowball glass).

Mist
To pour a drink over crushed ice.

Mixer
The non-alcoholic beverage you mix spirits with.

Muddled
A drink served with mashed fruit like an Old Fashioned.

Muddler
A wooden mallet used to smash fruit.

Neat
Room temperature drink with no ice.

Nip
Measurement for a little more than a jigger.

On the Rocks
Cocktail served in a glass over ice.

Pony
One ounce.

Perfect
Sweet and dry vermouth added to drink & served with a twist.

Proof
The alcohol content of spirits.

Shake
Add ice, then ingredients & shake in cocktail shaker.

Short
A cocktail prepared with just a little mixer in a short glass.

Simple Syrup
Heavy sugar water.

Spirits
Rum, whisky, brandy, gin, and other distilled liquors having much alcohol, in distinction from wine and malt liquors.

Splash
A small amount of mixer.

Straight Up
Drink is mixed with ice & then strained into glass.

Strainer
Wire gadget with a spring around it that fits over the top of your mixing container so you can strain ice or pulp when pouring into a serving glass.

Stir
Ingredients are poured over ice & long spoon is used to stir.

Top
Ingredient is put on top of drink.

Top Shelf
The best spirits in the house.

Twist
Lemon peel used to flavor rim of glass, then dropped in drink.

Up
A drink served with no ice, either neat or chilled.

Well
Bar stock liquors.